Harris County Follows Houston's Lead, Bans Robot Sex Brothels

HOUSTON, TX — The Harris County Commissioners Court followed the lead of Houston City Council with a unanimous vote on Tuesday to ban sex robot brothels in Harris County. Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan said county commissioners used similar language to match what the Houston City Council ordinance that was passed Oct. 3.

The City of Houston began regulating sexually oriented businesses in the early 1980s, forcing many to relocate to areas of unincorporated Harris County. The county enacted their own regulations in 2015 after appealing to the state legislature.

Earlier this month city council amended Chapter 28, Article II of its Sexually Oriented Business ordinance, which deals with Adult Arcades and Mini-Theaters to address current and emergent technologies in the adult entertainment industry, and outlawed the "try it before you buy it" stipulation.

The county's ban also outlaws “try it before you buy it,” prohibits the operation of a robot brothel, and defines adult motels, adult cabarets adult cabaret, entertainers, adult bookstores, theaters, and arcades where customers might interact with robotic love dolls or any device used for sexual gratification on the premises.

READ ALSO: City Council Updates Sex Ordinance, Nixes Robot Brothel

Ryan’s office has been on the front lines of the human and sex trafficking epidemic that has plagued Harris County for many years. In a statement from the Harris County Attorney’s Office, Ryan said businesses such as adult arcades, adult theaters, and other sex trade-related businesses are often part of the human trafficking problem and the county court’s ban will help law enforcement efforts to better protect the community.

Just like the city council ordinance, the county commissioner's ban does not prevent anyone from building a business that sells the sex doll in certain areas.

Sexually oriented businesses, particularly those that sell sex robots, are required to post a sign at their business with educational information regarding human trafficking. A violation of this rule or any others rules related to the county’s sexually oriented business law could result in a maximum fine of $4,000.

The city and the county were forced to take action after Toronto-based KinkySdolls.com announced plans to build the first robot brothel in the U.S. in Houston.

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